Shelf support



Dec. 17, 1963 A. WEBER 3,114,531

SHELF SUPPORT Filed Nov. 28, 1960 Albert We! 7 590. fimwl,

United States Patent M 3,114,531 SHELF SUPPURT Albert 'Weber, Morgenstrasse, Wetzihon, Switzerland Filed Nov. 28, 1960-, Ser. No. 71,989 Claims priority, application Switzerland Dec. 4, 1959 3 Claims. ((31. 248-242) This invention relates to a shelf support of the type used in show windows for the display of goods, whereof the essential parts comprise a vertical mounting channel formed with inwardly opposite flanges facing each other across a slot. A bracing member of T-shaped crosssection is on its top portion partly embraced by a telescopingly extendable rail adapted to hold the shelf. The bracing is formed to engage the vertical channel at two points spaced from each other, at an upper and lower point. The engagement at the upper point of the vertical channel is by a cross-piece on the bracing member including a central conical stud fitting into a hole in the web of the vertical channel. The cross-piece is insertable within the channel space by aligning it with the gap and it is retained therein in the non-aligned position. At the lower point of the vertical channel the bracing member is formed to abut the channel.

It is an object or" the invention to provide at said lower point of the vertical channel such abutting connection of. the bracing member on the said channel to provide for a connection of the two parts which is more rigid as with known shelf supports of the type described.

Another object of the invention is to provide for such connection at said lower point of the vertical channel which is adjustable so that the bracing member and the shelf may be placed with res set to the vertical channel either in horizontal position or at an oblique angle to said vertical channel.

Other features of the invention wi l be apparent from the specification on the drawing in which:

FiG. l is a side view of the shelf support showing the vertical channel in section.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section according to line IIII in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section according to line 111-411 in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c are respectively a front view, a side view and a plan view of assembled details relating to the connection of the bracing member with the vertical channel.

FIG. 5 is a similar View to that shown in FIG. 1, in which the bracing of the shelf support is mounted at an oblique angle on the vertical mounting channel.

Fit}. 6 shows another form of the invention in sideview of the bracket.

FIG. 7 is a similar view of the shelf support as that shown in FIG. 1, showing means to provide for a rigid connection of the bracing member with the vertical mounting channel.

FIG. 8 is a view indicated by the arrow VIII in FIG. '7.

FIGS. 9a, 9b and 9c are respectively a front view of a part, a front View of another part, and a side view of an assembly showing details of the connecting means generally shown in FIG. 7.

In FIG. 1 the reference 1 is the vertical channel or mounting channel, 6 is the bracing member of T-shaped cross-section as shown in FIG. 3, 2 is a telescopingly mounted rail embracing the top portion of the bracing member 6 and being adjustably positionable thereon and secured in any position by a set screw la, 5a is a crosspiece on an extension 5 of the bracing member including a central conical stud 7 which fits into a hole 4 in the web of the mounting channel. By aligning the cross-piece 5 with the slot 3 (FIG. 3) of the mounting channel it is the screw 9b.

3,ll4,53l Patented Dec. 17, 1%53 insertable within the space of the mounting channel to engage the hole 4 with its stud 7.

According to the invention, at the lower point of connection of the bracing member 6 and the mounting channel l, the bracing member 6 has a threaded hole 8 which is parallel to the top of the bracing member 6. A U-formed connecting piece id is fastened by means of a screw 9 in the threads of the hole 8, to the lower portion of the bracing member 6. By rotating the screw 9 in one direction the shelf support is raised, and lowered by rotating it in the other direction. FIG. 5 shows the shelf support in raised position at an oblique angle with respect to the vertical mounting channel. The design of the connection is shown in a horizontal section in FIG. 2 and in PK}. 4; three projections, namely in front, side and plan view. liib shows a recessed portion of the connecting piece which fits into the slot 3 (PEG. 3), preventing thereby sidewise movements of the shelf support. The adjusting screw or bolt 9 is rotated from the front side by means of a screw-driver fitting into a slit 9c of the screw 9. The screw 9 has an unthreaded portion extending into the part lb]; of the connecting piece it The part 6 can be raised into the position shown in FIG. 5 by the threading of the hole 8 co-operating with the threading of the screw 9.

in FIG. 6 the connecting piece described above is replaced by a screw 9a engaging the threads 8 in the bracing member 6, permitting to provide for any angle of the bracing member 6 and the shelf relating to the vertical mounting channel 1.

In the FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 a connecting piece comprising a screw 9b and a spacer 11 is shown providing for a rigid connection of the bracing member and the vertical mounting channel. The diameter of the screw 9b is so dimensioned that its threads do not engage the threads 8 in the bracing member 6. The spacer 11 is disposed between the outer surface of the flanges on the mounting channel and the lower portion of the bracing member 6 as shown in FIG. 7. The centre hole 14 in the spacer 11 is not threaded so that it is slidable over 12 is a cross-piece which in aligned position relative to the slot 3 between the flanges of the mounting channel 1 is brought into the space within the mounting channel also as shown in FIG. 7. This crosspiece 12 has a screw threaded hole 13 for engaging the threads of the bolt 9b. The spacer 11 has a projecting part Illa, fitting exactly into the slot 3, FIG. 3. If the screw 9b is rotated in the threading of the cross-niece t2, the arrangement as shown in PEG. 7 will press the lower portion of the bracing member 6 by the head of the screw i l: and by the cross-piece upon the flanges of the vertical mounting channel, clamping the spacer ii in between the flanges of the mounting channel It and the bracing member 6 as shown. As the part Ha is dimensioned to fit into the slot between the flanges of the mounting channel, the bracing member 6 and the shelf is thereby rigidly connected to the vertical mounting channel in its horizontal position both against sidewise or vertical movement.

The cross-piece of the T-shaped bracing member 6 with its top member 2 can be inserted through the slot 3 if the one side of that bracing member 6 is held perpendicularly to the mounting channel, and then rotated downwards into its normal position. The assembling can be accomplished when the shelf support is to be placed in a corner of two walls. In the normal position of the bracing member 6 the connecting piece or pieces can be brought into position without difficulty.

I claim:

1. A shelf support, comprising, a vertical mounting channel piece including a web having at least one hole and being formed with inwardly opposing flanges disposed opposite said web and facing each other across a slot defined therebetween, an elongated bracing member adapted to support a shelf, a cross-piece mounted on said bracing member and including a central conical stud operable to fit into said hole in the web, said cross-piece and stud tcxtending from the bracing member in the longitudinal direction thereof, said cross-piece being insertable into the channel iece interior by first aligning it with said slot and fitting the stud into the hole and then turning the cross-piece about an axis substantially coinciding with said longitudinal direction into a non'aligned position wherein it is retained in the channel piece interior by said flanges, said b'acing member defining an aperture at a point spaced below said cross-piece, and connecting means comprising a support member positionable on said channel and including a threaded bolt extending through said aperture, one of said members having a thread engagcd by said bolt, said bolt being turnable relative to said thread thereby to position said bracing member relative to said channel piece, wherein said support member includes a U-shaped abutment piece having a portion fitting into said slot, and said bolt being rotatably journalled relative to said abutment piece, said thread being formed in said aperture of said bracing member, whereby turning of said bolt will raise and respectively lower said bracing member angularly about said channel piece.

2. A shelf support, comprising a vertical mounting channel piece including a web having at least one hole and being formed with inwardly opposing flanges disposed opposite said web and facing each other across a slot defined therebetween, an elongated bracing member adapted to support a shelf, a cross-piece mounted on said bracing member and including a central conical stud 0peraole to fit into said hole in the Web, said cross-piece and stud extending from the bracing member in the longitudinal direction thereof, said cross-piece being insertable into the channel piece interior by first aligning it with said slot and fitting the stud into the hole and then turning the cross-piece about an axis substantially coinciding with said longitudinal direction into a non-aligned position wherein it is retained in the channel piece interior by said flanges, said bracing member defining an aperture at a point spaced below said cross-piece, and connecting means comprising a support member positionable on said channel and including a threaded bolt extending through said aperture, one of said members having a thread engaged by said bolt, said bolt being turnable relative to said thread thereby to position said bracing member relative to said channel piece, said support member having a portion projecting into said slot between said flanges and journalling said bolt, said bracing member having said thread in said aperture, whereby turning of said bolt will raise and, respectively, lower said bracing member angularly about said channel piece.

3. A shelf support, comprising a vertical mounting channel piece including a web having at least one hole and being formed with inwardly opposing fianges disposed opposite said web and facing each other across a slot defined therebetween, an elongated bracing member adapted to support a shelf, a cross-piece mounted on said bracing member and including a central conical stud operable to fit into said hole in the web, said cross-piece and stud extending from the bracing member in the longitudinal direction thereof, said cross-piece being insertable into the channel piece interior by first aligning it with said slot and fitting the stud into the hole and then turning the cross-piece about an axis substantially coinciding with said longitudinal direction into a non-aligned position wherein it is retained in the channel piece interior by said flanges, said bracing member defining an aperture at a point spaced below said cross-pie: and connecting means comprising a support member positionable on said channel and including a threaded bolt extending through said aperture, one of said members having a thread engaged by said bolt, said bolt being turnable rela tive to said channel piece, wherein said support member includes an abutment piece having two recess's defining therebetween a portion fitting into said slot, and said bolt being rotatably journalled relative to said abutment piece, said thread being formed in said aperture of said bracing member, whereby turning of said bolt will raise and respectively lower said bracing member angularly about said channel piece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A SHELF SUPPORT, COMPRISING, A VERTICAL MOUNTING CHANNEL PIECE INCLUDING A WEB HAVING AT LEAST ONE HOLE AND BEING FORMED WITH INWARDLY OPPOSING FLANGES DISPOSED OPPOSITE SAID WEB AND FACING EACH OTHER ACROSS A SLOT DEFINED THEREBETWEEN, AN ELONGATED BRACING MEMBER ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A SHELF, A CROSS-PIECE MOUNTED ON SAID BRACING MEMBER AND INCLUDING A CENTRAL CONICAL STUD OPERABLE TO FIT INTO SAID HOLE IN THE WEB, SAID CROSS-PIECE AND STUD EXTENDING FROM THE BRACING MEMBER IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION THEREOF, SAID CROSS-PIECE BEING INSERTABLE INTO THE CHANNEL PIECE INTERIOR BY FIRST ALIGNING IT WITH SAID SLOT AND FITTING THE STUD INTO THE HOLE AND THEN TURNING THE CROSS-PIECE ABOUT AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDING WITH SAID LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION INTO A NON-ALIGNED POSITION WHEREIN IT IS RETAINED IN THE CHANNEL PIECE INTERIOR BY SAID FLANGES, SAID BRACING MEMBER DEFINING AN APERTURE AT A POINT SPACED BELOW SAID CROSS-PIECE, AND CONNECTING MEANS COMPRISING A SUPPORT MEMBER POSITIONABLE ON SAID CHANNEL AND INCLUDING A THREADED BOLT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID APERTURE, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING A THREAD ENGAGED BY SAID BOLT, SAID BOLT BEING TURNABLE RELATIVE TO SAID THREAD THEREBY TO POSITION SAID BRACING MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID CHANNEL PIECE, WHEREIN SAID SUPPORT MEMBER INCLUDES A U-SHAPED ABUTMENT PIECE HAVING A PORTION FITTING INTO SAID SLOT, AND SAID BOLT BEING ROTATABLY JOURNALLED RELATIVE TO SAID ABUTMENT PIECE, SAID THREAD BEING FORMED IN SAID APERTURE OF SAID BRACING MEMBER, WHEREBY TURNING OF SAID BOLT WILL RAISE AND RESPECTIVELY LOWER SAID BRACING MEMBER ANGULARLY ABOUT SAID CHANNEL PIECE. 